Spectral dependence of deep-space communications capability.
Deep-space communication capability spectral dependence analysis indicates optical transmissions would be several orders of magnitude poorer than RF technology
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Deep-space communication capability spectral dependence analysis indicates optical transmissions would be several orders of magnitude poorer than RF technology
Maintenance and evaluation techniques for phase- stable oscillators for deep-space communications
Antenna systems for deep space communication emphasizing ground station, balancing of ground antenna aperture with spacecraft performance, arrays, etc
Microwaves and laser links for spacecraft-earth communications noting limitations by external noise effects, atmospheric turbulence, fabrication tolerances, etc
Microwave deep space communications and tracking, predicting future capabilities
Communications requirements for manned deep space missions, using optical links, with PPM, PCM/PL AND coherent reception for each link
High-power microwave transmitters for deep-space communication with unmanned spacecraft
Use of earth orbiting satellite as communications relay between earth and space vehicles on interplanetary missions
The support provided by the Deep Space Network to the 1975 Viking Mission from the first landing on Mars July 1976 to the end of the Prime Mission on November 15, 1976 is described and evaluated. Tracking and data acquisition support required the continuous operation of a worldwide network of tracking stations with 64-meter and 26-meter diameter antennas, together with a global communications system for the transfer of commands, telemetry, and radio metric data between the stations and the Network Operations Control Center in Pasadena, California. Performance of the deep-space communications links between Earth and Mars, and innovative new management techniques for operations and data handling are included.
The support which was provided by the Deep Space Network to the Viking Extended Mission from December 1976 to May 1978 is described. Tracking and data acquisition support required the continuous operation of a world-wide network of tracking stations with 64-meter and 26-meter diameter antennas, together with a global communications system for the transfer of commands, telemetry, and radio metric data between the stations and the Network Operations Control Center in Pasadena, California. Performance of the deep-space communications links between Earth and Mars, and innovative new management techniques for operations and data handling are included.
Third-order phase-locked receivers have not yet found wide application in deep-space communications systems because the second-order systems now used have performed adequately on past spacecraft missions. However, a survey of the doppler profiles for future missions shows that an unaided second-order loop may be unable to perform within reasonable error bounds. This article discusses the characteristics of a simple third-order extension to present second-order systems that not only extends doppler-tracking capability, but widens the pull-in range and decreases pull-in time as well.
The performance of command and telemetry systems, useful in deep-space communications, is frequently affected by the radio-frequency phase error which is introduced at the point of reception by means of the carrier tracking loop. In low data rate communications, this phase error may vary rapidly over the duration of the signaling interval. In this paper such phase variation is characterized by a sinusoidal input phase, K sin (omega sub o t+, pi/6), which models a typical phase variation in communication over turbulent media. Conditions for synchronization stability and the acquisition behavior are examined by detailed computer study of the phase-plane trajectories for the second and third-order loops with perfect integrator. It is demonstrated that for the phase variation considered the third-order loop has no real advantage over the second-order loop. Finally, it is shown that nonzero initial conditions may result in large steady-state phase error.
It is argued that a substantial portion of the capability for detecting microwave signals from extraterrestrial civilizations lies not in the application of ever larger antenna collecting areas but rather in the application of millions or billions of simultaneous frequency-channel observations combined with rapid and powerful data processing techniques. The application of these methods to existing facilities is discussed in terms of a program of modest expense and duration which will seek to discover certain classes of extraterrestrial signals of intelligent origin while defining boundaries to the search problem throughout the range of interest. This program will investigate radio-astronomical phenomena of interest and simultaneously define the background of environmental radiation in order to determine physical limitations on both the search strategies and the potential for deep-space communications. Signal parameters that must be determined are examined along with the potential of existing radio-astronomical facilities for detecting narrow-band signals. A seven-year program is described which will carry out a search for extraterrestrial intelligence over 80% of the sky and over the entire frequency range from 1 to 25 GHz with a sensitivity limit varying from 10 to the -21st power W/sq cm at the lowest frequencies to 10 to the -19th power W/sq cm at the higher frequencies.
Foremost among the candidates for early utilization of the Shuttle-launched self-deployable structures are the space-based radio telescopes. Several space-based telescopes are examined including an orbiting VLBI terminal, an orbiting submillimeter telescope, and a large ambient deployable IR telescope. Particular consideration is given to the high-gain Orbiting Deep-Space Relay Station for communication with deep-space probes. Details of deployable antenna technology are discussed.
This paper is an interim report on a study being carried out to assess the requirements for tracking and communications with deep-space probes in the post-1985 time frame and to evaluate approaches to meeting those requirements. The orbiting deep-space relay station (ODSRS) is one approach to meeting those requirements that appears to have some significant advantages over ground-based stations. A detailed conceptual design of an ODSRS is compared with other tracking and communications system configuration options. The comparison includes a life-cycle cost analysis as well as operations and performance capabilities. Reported results of the study to date include a preliminary assessment of post-1985 requirements, a discussion of planned ODSRS system capabilities as well as of tracking and communications system advantages and problems that are peculiar to an OSDRS, a look at the current status of the conceptual design of the ODSRS, and a summary of the plan for the remainder of the study.
In connection with attempts to achieve very low error probabilities, Odenwalder (1970) proposed a concatenated coding system using the Viterbi-decoded convolutional codes as the inner code and Reed-Solomon (RS) codes as the outer code. Analytical and experimental results are presented concerning the effects of the receiver tracking phase error on the performance of the concatenated RS/Viterbi channel coding system. On the basis of these results it is concluded that certain problems regarding communication operations on deep-space missions can be alleviated by employing the RS/Viterbi coding system. In one-way communication, an employment of RS/Viterbi coding will also provide greater data protection than the Viterbi-decoded convolutional-only coding system.
Concept simplifies implementation of offset quadrature amplitude-shift-keyed signal when encoding digital information for transmission. Although originally developed for deep-space radio transmission, concept can find applications in various band-width constrained systems and in digital radio communications. Also is particularly useful in high volume data transmission as means of encoding and decoding.
Laser application to deep space communication noting advantages of optical frequencies for high rate transmission of data